#TrueStory: In high school, I was stalked by 4 of my best friends (pt. 6)

Alrite, I gotz me some coffee and I gotz me some storytellin to do.

First off, if you haven't caught up, here's part one, part two, part three, part four, and part five. Basically, I was the first person in Connecticut to get a restraining order in a non-sexual relationship. Not something I'm exactly going to get a plaque for and put on my wall, but considering in a week I will be back in CT, this is something I wanted to address.

As a preface lemme address the breaking in since that kinda has its own little thing going on; the condo in Maine getting broken into completely rattled me - like completely completely completely rattled me. My parents came home not long after, and were sooooooooooo mad at me. Not like, mad, mad like you're grounded, mad, but I remember them yelling at me saying, why on EARTH did you pull a knife on them instead of just calling the police?!?!

I tried explaining that I wasn't thinking, I just reacted, but being 16 - and at the time only 5'3 on a big hair day - they wanted to hammer home to me that I was incredibly vulnerable in that scenario. Fortunately it was enough to just scare the fuck out of the guys, but my parents wanted me to actually think about what I would have done next; it's like that's my POINT, I wasn't thinking - I reacted. Hahaha, it's pretty funny typing this out - because now it sounds hilarious, but hearing that conversation come out of my parents mouth was weird. I couldn't believe I had actually pulled a knife on someone and was thoroughly prepared to go through with whatever I had to do to protect myself and the household. Seriously. I WAS SIXTEEN!!!!!! Bat shit. Fucking, bat shit. But again, we are SOOOO much stronger than we can ever give ourselves credit for. For reals, when the shit hits the fan (which I honestly hope never happens for all of you), I will almost GUARANTEE you that you will know what to do. So stop living in fear of wondering if things will happen and trust that if they do, you'll be fine.

Either way, a couple weeks later the Wells Police Department called and had indicated that they thought they caught the kids, and asked if I could come in to identify them. Kids? I thought. These dudes were soooooooo tall!!! No WAY they were my age.

Yeah, eyewitness accounts - no bueno.

I was literally given a sheet of paper with about 10 boys who all looked a like school portraits. Not even senior portraits, I'm talking about the Lifetouch cheesy ones with the lasers in the back. Weirrrrrdd!

Either way, I totally failed in identifying them. The only thing I really remembered was that one of them was still kneeling, but the other one was SUPPERRR tall - I'm talking like over 6". He absolutely and utterly towered over me. They were in dark clothing, and the rest was all a blur.

Worst. Eyewitness. Ever.

Apparently though they had enough to get the dudes in a lot of trouble, and the condo was never vandalized or anything again. Everything went back to normal ... kinda ... yeah, did I mention I was still being stalked at that point? Oh yeah ... here's that part of the story too ...

Lemme get a song going ... reeaaddddyyy?? Cue Sia!

The end of 2001 and all of 2002 represented the lowest point in my life. Like hands down. No joke. All during everything with the stalkers I lost 4 of my family members all very unexpectedly. (Remember the post about my grandparents and my uncle and my grandfather passing? This was all happening at the same time. Dudes, even my grandmother not recognizing me when she came in and ordered her Starbucks. That was THIS starbucks. Same time. Same brain. Situation overload.) I even took my aunt to the hospital for something relatively routine, and was told a mere hour later that I needed to have my family come to the hospital as we were losing her. Yeah, I was literally watching my aunt, who was like the greatest person on the planet to me, and someone I loved so so so deeply, die right in front of me - and dudes after she was just sticking her tongue out at me ... and now she is passing?!?!? WHHHHAAAATTT!!!! 

I don't know how I didn't go into a nut-house during that time. Very literally, everything was falling apart, but it all started with the stalkers. 

Mandy, because of her parents now knowing about her actions due to the injunction, dropped off the scene pretty quickly. Her parents limited her interactions with the girls, and she got pretty quiet. Valerie, Amber, and Sarah however didn't have parents that got on them like white on rice - so they all proceeded like nothing had happened.

They were SLAPPED with an INJUNCTION!!!

350 yards.

No contact.

Direct or indirect.

Online or in person.

Stay away from Jennifer's places of employment.

If you know Jennifer is at a location, you must immediately remove yourself from said location.

Black and white - typed out, signed by a judge.

Day, after day ...

night after night ...

the harassment continued.

All in all, it took a total 27 days of harassment including hundreds of emails, IMs, and countless police reports taken across three towns before they were even found in violation of the injunction, and on November 4, 2001 all three girls were hauled into the back of a police car and taken to jail.

Officer Schwab personally made the arrest, as he had become so emotionally invested in the case.

He very literally could not understand the blatant disregard the girls had for the law, let alone the person that they were breaking it for.

The charges were different for each girl ...

Amber: arrested on a warrant charging her with one count of second-degree stalking, five counts of second-degree harassment, one count of breach of peace and three counts of threatening.

Sarah: arrested on a warrant charging her with two counts of second-degree harassment, two counts of threatening and one count of breach of peace. Police said she was harassing a fellow student.

Valerie: arrested on a warrant charging her with second-degree harassment and threatening. Police said she sent threatening e-mails.

I don't remember how long they were in jail for that time - I just remember being so unbelievably scared that they were going to retaliate.

I never left the house, and even when I was in my own home I only stayed in a few corners of it as there were so many windows I was petrified of being shot through one of them.

WHO LIVES IN A HOUSE WITH 98 WINDOWS?!?!?! BAHHH!!

Worst. Idea. Ever.

The next few months were a total blur. I don't remember my 17th birthday, I dont remember new years 2002, I don't remember much of anything except in January of that year my family started dropping like flies. Everything I thought I was, everything I thought I knew was changing. I was suddenly being jolted from this picturesque version of life and reality that a kid from Connecticut grows up with, and was faced with the sobering fact that everything that I thought I knew was over and done with; my age of innocence was gone. 

These girls had money, which meant they had access to things most kids their age wouldn't - which meant they were capable of THAT much more.

It didn't take them long before they were back to their old tricks.

My dad and Owen Eagen (who were my lawyers) decided that because the girls were stalking me during school hours, and I was technically still a student at my high school - I could talk to the school principal and see if we could have him talk to them and give them some sort of discipline.

They decided that it would appear to be too formal if they all came with me, so they sent me alone to go and talk to the principal to appear more heartfelt and less confrontational.

I remember sitting in reception - terrified.

There I was on, on school grounds, the same school grounds that the girls were currently on (everyone minus Valerie who went to school on the other side of town).

Please don't kill me. Please don't kill me. Please don't kill me.

His assistant comes out, Jennifer Friel - YES!!! I scream, clearly a bit nervous and only mildly jumpy. 

I go into his office and sit down, something mind you I have never ever had to do in my high school career. (Dudes, I was such a goody two shoes I never even got a detention!!! I did however serve one with Amber once. SOOO BOORRINNNNGGG!!)

I sat in front of the principal and pleaded my case. I showed him the injunction, all the police reports, all of the harassment. Tears streamed down my face. Please, help me. Please. They're disobeying the judge's orders - and I don't know who else to turn to. They've stalked me across three towns and even left classes to come after me. They are going to kill me - there is no doubt in my mind about that, I just ... (I take a deep breath), don't know who else to turn to. Their parents aren't doing anything, they think they're above the law - please, tell me there is something that you can do.

He handed me a tissue.

What would you like me to do?

I don't know! This has to be in violation of something here at this school, I'm still a student here.

Yes, but you're not attending any classes - you're not on school property. 

Yes, I know that fact, but these girls are LEAVING school property TO stalk me. THEY are enrolled in your classes and they are LEAVING them to stalk me.

This is your side of the story. I would need to hear theirs.

Wait, my SIDE of the story?

I slap my hand down on his desk hitting the injunction. 

My SIDE of the story? Oh no, this is FACT.

I can see you are upset. Let me have a talk with the girls, and I can see if there is maybe something we can do.

Something you can do? SOMETHING?!

These girls are going to kill me. They are leaving YOUR school to do this. These are YOUR students, and you are trying to pass this off as if this is NOT YOUR PROBLEM?

I sat his office completely flabbergasted.

No, like literally. I had been taught that teachers and principals were supposed to protect students, and do whatever it took to keep them safe - this man stared me dead in my tear filled eyes and showed not an ounce of compassion.

I stood up and left his office.

You'll be hearing from my attorneys.

I want to say I flipped him off in this big dramatic fashion, and threw all of the papers off the desk - but again, I was still in shock. The meeting did not go as planned. And you sir, are a fucking asshole. Wow, what a wake up call.

Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you. I screamed at the top of my lungs from inside my car.

WHY DOES NO ONE BELIEVE THIS IS A BIG DEAL?!?!?!?! WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE?!?!?!!?! I WILL NOT BE A FUCKING STATISTIC!!!!!!!!!!!

The next couple of months were spent in and out of court. Every 3 weeks either Amber or Sarah violated the injunction. I was completely convinced at that point that they were actually getting off on the attention their parents must have been giving them for all of this. Like seriously!?!?!

The judge demanded that he be the only one to take "care" of these girls. He got so mad at them disobeying his orders REPEATEDLY that he slapped them with some super gnarly community service.

They weren't stopping.

They weren't stopping.

They weren't stopping.

Then, came spring time. Second semester seniors! Supposedly the greatest time in a student's scholastic career - it was my absolute worst.

See, even though I finished in 2001, I hadn't officially graduated since I wanted to walk with my class for reunion purposes.

A new crop of emails and IMs began ... these were threatening me on attending the senior prom and graduation.

HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHA you think you're going to go to your senior prom and graduation? We know where it is, and we're going to get you.

The emails honestly were far worse, but I refuse to actually go through any of that file. But for purpose of storytelling, you get the idea - they weren't nice.

I could handle not going to my senior prom since my junior one was meh ... but my GRADUATION?!?!?!? Oh FUCCCCKKKKK NOOOOOOO!!! I worked so. so. so. hard my ENTIRE LIFE for my grades - who the fuck, no lemme add a little more umph - WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!?!?!

The threats came in stronger as the senior activities grew closer and closer - in fact they even got way more specific.

We're going to shoot you as you walk across the stage and get your diploma. HAHAHAAHAHAHA

They had created so many accounts, and had so many people involved at this point that it was literally impossible to ignore.

I had let these girls take hostage of my life for almost 8 months at that point, to HELL if I was going to let them take away 12 years of very. very. very. hard work.

Oh no.

HELL TO THE FUCK NO.

I had to go to my high school graduation. Whatever it took - even if it meant my life, it was something I was willing to sacrifice; I wasn't going to be afraid.

Owen and my dad contacted the school and informed them of the threats. The principal acted surprised that it had become so elevated but assured them both that I would be protected at graduation at all costs.

HAHAHA yeah right. Fuck you, you fucking asshole.

My dad was REALLY pissed at the way the principal treated me when I went into his office - he was taking no chances.

He then contacted Officer Schwab, and instructed him that he wanted the chief of police at the West Hartford police department to be involved at this point - yep, my dad was pulling out the big guns. He knew my high school graduation meant everything to me, and if he couldn't stop me from going, he would at least make sure I was protected because clearly the school was incapable of doing that. 

The days before my graduation were spent crying. Was I really going to go through with this? The threats were coming in more and more, and they sounded more and more certain that they were in fact going to kill me - was I really ready to die just to get a piece of paper.

My answer was always the same - yes.

It was MY piece of paper, plus honors. 

FUCK YES.

Tangent: As it turned out, because of all the time spent in and out of court, apparently the girls missed more school than anticipated, and neither Amber or Sarah wound up being able to graduate. (Insert Nelson: HA-HA)

I remember the morning of my graduation shaking as I put on my makeup. I posed for a few pictures with my parents and my grandparents, but I just wanted it to be over at this point. If I was going to die, I was ready to do it for something I believed in - my grades. I'd much rather have this all just be over than continue to live in fear of wondering, what if. At least, I will know.

We drove over to the high school, my family barely spoke.

My parents hugged me, kissing me on the cheek telling me how proud they were of me, and how much they both loved me.

I love you both so much, and thank you dad. I am only able to be here today because of you.

I kid you not, my dad got the ENTIRE West Hartford police department at my high school graduation.

No fucking joke, and no fucking exaggeration - between my dad and Owen, they presented the school and the chief of police with every. single. bit of evidence, and said if she dies ... there will be HELL to pay to the likes of which you have NEVER seen.

Again, don't fuck with my dad man. He's a shark. Corporate lawyers get paid to eat people for a living, and they do it with a smile. Compound that with all the love that my dad has for me, and it's over.

I didn't see the police as the majority of them were all undercover, but one of them pulled me aside before joining my class.

Here, he said - as he pointed to an empty chair at the end of the "F" row. This is where I need you to sit, he said.

They had to make sure I was protected, so I wasn't allowed to sit in direct alphabetical order in my class, I was on the end.

Mind you too, I hadn't even seen ANYONE in my class in close to a year - the stares that I got, man oh man.

Why is Jen sitting on the end? Where has she been? Does she still even go to this school?

I made small talk with a few people, but mostly sat there and prayed.

I am ready to die, I am ready to do this - let's go. No one can take today from me.

I remember a few of the speeches, but they all went by pretty fast.

Moments later, they started calling the As.

Bs ...

Cs ...

Ds ...

Es ...

Good lord we have a lot of Es in this class ...

and now F.

My row stands. Mrs. Birdsall, who was apparently like the oversee-er of the kids standing confronts me.

"I don't understand WHY you are all the way over here. You are messing up the order from everyone, I want you to know that."

If ever there was a more appropriate moment to deck someone in all of my life, it would have been then. Really lady? Really?

I said nothing choosing to remain in the zone and prepare myself for walking on stage, which may or may not be one of my final acts in life.

I walk towards the stage in line with my row.

I hear my name ... Jennifer Friel.

I walk up on stage - I hear my family SCCRREAAAMMMM in cheers - I smile and wave as I grab my diploma.

I take it in my hand, this is it, I'm here ... and I'm not dead.

I take a deep breath, and start cheering so hard.

I did it.

I did it.

I did it.

Fuck graduating high school - hahaha, that part was easy, but I stood up to them. I didn't let them control me, I won! I won! I won!!!

I'M ALIVE!!!!!

HOLY SHIT, I'M ALIVE!!!!!!!!

I'M ALIVE!!!!!!!

I AM ALIVE!!!!

I sit back down turning around multiple times to wave to my parents.

My moms eyes are filled with tears, I see her mouth "I love you baby."

I start crying.

Again, haha appropriate for any graduation, but only if my class knew what I had gone through to be there that day.

Only if they knew ...

Only ... if ... they ... knew.

ANNNNNNDDD scene! =) Wahoo! I survived! =) K ... next up, the girls go to court. Criminal and civil. YAYERS! =) And thanks so so much for reading these series of posts guys. I really appreciate all the support. Very very very difficult to relive.

#namaste

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